Monday, March 27, 2006

Pretty Shameful

A few years before my divorce, my previously secular Jewish husband became orthodox. The one and only positive result of that experience was the several good friends that I made in the orthodox community. They all belonged to the synagogue of my husband's choice - the synagogue of Rabbi Moshe Ben-Zaken, and his cantor, Chagai Batzri, the son of a prominent Israeli rabbinical judge.

Although I had no interest in orthodoxy, I liked Rabbi Ben-Zaken and his wife. So it was a surprise and shock for me to hear about Rabbi Ben-Zaken's recent adventure. Ben Zaken- married his protégé, Chagai Batzri, to a second wife, without Batzri divorcing his first wife - i.e., a polygamous marriage. I read about it first on Luke Ford's site, and then the Jewish Journal ran a detailed article on the whole sordid affair.

Ben-Zaken's justification was twofold:

1. Sepharadic Jews allow a man to have more than one wife, so it's permissable.2. The first wife in question - Luna Batzri - had refused to accept the Jewish court's jurisdiction in the financial settlement of her divorce - she wanted the financial aspects to be worked out in civil court.

In case you're not familiar with the laws of Jewish marriage and divorce, a few clarifications:

1. According to Jewish law, a woman has to receive a divorce from her husband. It doesn't work the other way around, a woman cannot divorce her husband.

2. A woman cannot marry two men, i.e., she needs to get a divorce before she can remarry.

3. If a woman becomes pregnant from a man other than her husband, the child is considered a bastard, and the child and its offspring cannot marry within the Jewish community for seven generations.

All of which clarifies why a woman would be anxious for her husband to give her a divorce, and why a man holds much of the leverage in this situation.

Jewish courts have of course also recognized this inequality, and therefore generally feel obliged to force a recalcitrant husband to grant his wife a divorce.

In this case, however, Rabbi Ben-Zaken went in the opposite direction. In lieu of putting pressure on Batzri to grant his wife a divorce, Ben-Zaken condoned Batzri's actions by marrying him to a second woman.

How did he pull that off? Well, in its pure form, Jewish law allows a man to take multiple wives, but Ashkenazi Jews made this practice effectively invalid more than 1,000 years ago. Sephardic Jews, however, never officially banned polygamy. Ben-Zaken used this loophole, in essence to help Batzri in his effort to force his wife to accept the financial settlement that a Jewish court would offer. And in this case, of course, it would clearly be a rigged Jewish court, since Ben-Zaken is a long-time friend, and obviously has clear affinity to Batzri.

To perhaps state the obvious, Ben-Zaken did was unconscionable in many respects:

1. He's using his power as a rabbi to help a friend (Chagai Batzri) coerce the friend's wife (Luna Batzri) into what may be a very unfair financial settlement.

2. He's putting shame to the Sephardic community by exposing and using the never-used loophole of polygamy in Sephardic practice.

3. He's essentially declaring that, although he lives in the U.S. And benefits from all the country has to offer, he is willing to agitate against use of the American court system.

I'd like to think that Ben-Zaken didn't think the whole thing through before he did the deed, but it was a formal and planned marriage, he certainly had time to think about it.

At this point the deed is done, Batzri is officially married to his two wives. Ben-Zaken cannot undo that. But Ben-Zaken should whisper in Batzri's ear that he had better give his first wife, Luna, an unconditional Jewish divorce (financial settlement to be decided in civil court).

I also wonder if civil law could be used here - polygamy is illegal in the U.S., isn't it?

As to Ben-Zaken's position and respectability as a Rabbi - well, I think you should be the judge...

378 Comments:

What's pretty shameful is your un-education comments based strictly on what you read. Here are a few facts: His EX-WIFE Luna Kadouri Batzri was unwilling to accept her Get (Jewish Divorce) she was called on three seperate times to two different Bais Din's. Hagay Batzri is not guilty of Bigamy his is divorced according to both civil and jewish law. She refused to accept her get. She wanted to prevent her ex-husband Hagay Batzri from moving forward in his life and getting married. She made him a chained man. She had an affair with a man named David Kirshenbaum during her marriage to Hagay Batzri (her son witnessed his mother and Kirshenbaum kissing in the kitchen). According to Jewish law they had to get divorced. She's a bitter, angry women. Her son won't even speak to her anymore. She is suing Hagay Batzri for spousal and CHILD support. Her son has spent one night with her during the past two years. Why does she want child support? Why won't she come to a jewish court and accept her get and their decision? She parades around town dressing like an orthodox jew why won't she behave like one?

No, she's not divorced according to Jewish law. I think you know that, and you know that Hagay's second marriage is a bigamous one. In fact, there was a formal way for Hagay to get a Jewish divorce, but I think he knew he would never get 100 rabbis to sign it. And the reason they wouldn't agree is that he was trying to force her to do a financial settlement in the rabbinical court, in a country where there is a civil system for that.

If indeed her son is not spending any time with her, than the civil court will not grant her child support. Child support in civil court is proportional to the time that the child spends with the parent. There's no need to violate the sanctity of the Jewish court by resorting to the trick of the Sephardic acceptance of bigamy. I don't know what more can be said here.

No Luna may not be divorced but Hagay Batzri is divorced both according to Jewish and Civil Law. Luna refused to accept her Get which was unconditional and I will gladly post the letter from the RCC which is not a Shepardic Beth Din asking her to come and receive her unconditional Get. There was no mention of financial matters from either Hagay Batzri or the RCC. She felt she could keep Hagay Batzri from moving forward in his life by refusing to accept her Get. In addition, her family in Israel is strongarming his family into giving Luna Batzri the sum of $100,000 in the form of a cashier's check and a home in Israel in the amount of $140,000 and they promise to stop posting flyers ruining his name, his families name and his new wife's name. Then and only then will she stop suing him in court for child support and spousal support. WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE DEMANDS FROM LUNA KADOURI FAMILY THAT ARE BEING PLACED UPON THE BATZRI FAMILY?

I have it in writing along with the letter from the RCC and would be most happy to show you.

Also to clear a few things up, Hagay Batzri never was employed by Rabbi Ben-Zaken as a Cantor and Rabbi Ben-Zaken did not perform the marriage ceremony. Neither did Moshe Batzri, Hagay's brother.

First of all I think you should post the letter. The claim that he offered her an unconditional get (agreeing to do the financial settlement in civil court) contradicts everything I've heard, and also contradicts the Jewish Journal article, published about a month ago, written by Amy Klein, and supposedly

Second, contrary to what you're saying, I knew Hagay when he was employed by BenZaken - as a cantor at Yaniv Moshe. You could say that the employer was the synagogue, but Hagay did work for Ben-Zaken.

Third, regarding whether Rav Ben-Zaken performed the marriage ceremony - this is the first I've heard that he didn't. Who did perform it? Who was the signatory on the Ketubah?

Again, in the bottom line, what I'm saying is that no matter what transpired between Luna and Hagay, there is recourse in civil court for settling financial issues, and trying to force a woman to accept the financial settlement of a Jewish court by enabling bigamy, desecrates the sanctity of the Jewish court system.

Rabbi Batzri and Luna Batzri are both Sephardic; why should they follow the laws of the Askhenazi? Sephardim don't insist Askhenaz eat rice and beans on Pesach or eat Bet Joseph meat!

First I would like to ask you to look at it this way; why should two Orthodox Jews go to a civil court when everything can be done in a Beth Din, including the Get? In fact for an Orthodox Jew to sue another jew in a non jewish court is one of the worst things they can do.

Here is just a tibit of a long and sad sorry:

Initially Rabbi Batzri suggested they go to a counselor who helped couples through the difficulties of divorce and offered attorney services at the same time. According to Halacha a man is forbidden to be with his wife if she was with another man. Luna had an affair during their marriage; hence the reason for the divorce. Yes there is proof of the affair. Luna wanted a settlement and Rabbi Batzri offered her the sum of $50,000 up front and $3,000 per month for the next two years. She felt it was not enough because Rabbi Batzri still had income from the Shul; Rabbi Batzri offered her to keep her position at the school run by the Shul with the same salary (in addition to the lump sum and spousal support). Luna did not want to continue her job and said she needed to get her families approval from Israel and took off. Upon her return she dismissed Rabbi Batzri's offer and decided to sue him in court for both child support and spousal support.

Based on his income at the time he was ordered to pay $3,500 in both spousal and child support. The son (who is suffering the most) has lived soley with Rabbi Batzri since the seperation. Luna claimed the son either lived with her or she had "no idea where her son lived." Upon a modification, the support was lowered to $3,200 per month and Luna still continued to insist her son lived with her or she had "no idea" where he lived. The son has not yet been able to testify which he so badly wants to.

Because of the damage Luna did to the Shul and school (claiming Rabbi Batzri was stealing money, or using the money for his divorce attorney, that he was impotent and on and on and on) the Shul and school unfortunately closed.

Rabbi Batzri was without income or an attorney. He was unable to pay her the awarded support and was found guilty and sentenced to 15 day in jail and ordered to pay $20,000 in attorney fees. He did 3 days of community service. She is suing him again, even though she knows he does not have income and threatens Rabbi's who want to employ him.Keeping him from the ability to pay the amount ordered by the court or to even feed himself and son.

He is in contempt again and the modification for reduction of both spousal and child support cannot be heard until after the contempt is settled. The contempt case has been continued for the last seven months.

So you see (and this again is a small, small side to the story) Rabbi Batzri offered her a settlement and support when he had it; including an unconitional Get. All he want's now is to get out of contempt. She is making it impossible for him to do that. Why? Because she is a bitter, evil woman.

I have proof that Luna was called to the Beth Din to receive the unconditional get. Why didn't she come and get it then? Why because she want's to ruin him. And she is doing a pretty good job of it.

So far Rabbi Batzri has paid Luna $70,000 (through property sold in Israel and spousal and child support) HOW MUCH MORE DOES SHE WANT?

When everything comes out, she won't be smelling like the rose you all think she is.

I am being brave here and posting this. The Rabbi's involved have been holding their tongues even if it means their reputations may be clouded or ruined. I can't sit back quietly anymore and listen or read these disgusting lies.

The most important issue involving this case, that many people and Rabbi's that are not true scholar's don't even know is this;

According to Jewish law (both Askhenazi and Sephardic) if a woman has an extra maritial affair and refuses to accept her Get, the husband then has the right to go to a Beth Din and asked to be released from his marriage.

Rabbi Batzri was released from his marriage because of Luna's affair and her unwillingness to accept her unconditional Get. Any other reason Luna may give is a un-true and mean spirited lie.

I came upon your blog totally serendipidously. I am not an orthodox jew, but have had many dealings with the orthodox community as a family attorney. How could this be that all the allegations are pointed at Chagai Batzri? Logic would dictate that one would query as to what type of woman would marry a man who is married to another. Read carefully and you will understand...

The woman that Rabbi Batzri married is a long time devotee to the Kabballah Centre, both in Los Angeles as well as in New York. As far as I know, she has official residences in both of these cities. Firstly, she goes by the name Nechama, but her real name, amongst many aliases, is Nadine Brownen. She is of the Russian Orthodox faith, Malackai, a visious anti-semetic sect. Her alleged conversion to Judaism was done by the powers that be at the Kabballah Centre in New York for very ulterior motives (beyond the scope of this message). Nechama/Nadine/Nina/et al, is and has always been a career prostitute, hence her connection to the Kabballah Centre and (Rabbi) Batzri. She is a part owner of an escort service which specializes in corrupt Orthodox Jewish men. She has mentioned to me on numerous occasions that the only goal that she has in life would be to marry an Orthodox rabbi. I was first introduced to her when she was dating another Orthodox rabbi in Los Angeles whose life was nearly ruined by her. It was then that she was jailed in Las Vegas for prostitution. My questions to all of you bloggers is as follows: How could the holy Rabbi Batzri marry a woman without an acceptably valid Orthodox conversion? How could his family accept that he married a woman of the night? Where are any of the rabbis that approved or even talked to these individuals? Shouldn't it be public record who the rabbi was that married them? I think something is very rotten in Los Angeles.

this is being written from a .close girlfriend of the 2nd mrs. batzri.Mrs. Batzri will be the first to admit that she suffers from assorted mental illness and is in and out of psychiatric facilities throughout the year. she has been banned from numerous synagogues inthe Pico and Bevrly hills neighborhood for this reason alone,as far as I Know she walked away the prostitutin business after she escaped from the Kabbalah centre. Just to correct your last commentator, her real name is Fairyn Brownen and she is to be pitied.....not rebuked for sordid choices she makes.

this is being written from a .close girlfriend of the 2nd mrs. batzri.Mrs. Batzri will be the first to admit that she suffers from assorted mental illness and is in and out of psychiatric facilities throughout the year. she has been banned from numerous synagogues inthe Pico and Bevrly hills neighborhood for this reason alone,as far as I Know she walked away the prostitutin business after she escaped from the Kabbalah centre. Just to correct your last commentator, her real name is Fairyn Brownen and she is to be pitied.....not rebuked for sordid choices she makes.

this is being written from a .close girlfriend of the 2nd mrs. batzri.Mrs. Batzri will be the first to admit that she suffers from assorted mental illness and is in and out of psychiatric facilities throughout the year. she has been banned from numerous synagogues inthe Pico and Bevrly hills neighborhood for this reason alone,as far as I Know she walked away the prostitutin business after she escaped from the Kabbalah centre. Just to correct your last commentator, her real name is Fairyn Brownen and she is to be pitied.....not rebuked for sordid choices she makes.

What is it with this blogsite? Evidently we are dealing with a bunch of psychos who are misfits in any jewish community. Its obvious to any thinking person that hagay the heavy rav, is writing his own comments under the name sarastein for how else would anyone be familiar with both of his wives pschosis ?Dear cosmolife try to explain why you are even attemting to moderate a blog between a hooker, false rabbi and a scam artist(it almost sounds like bad standup!

I am truly apalled at all the negativity surrounding the Batzri/Fairyn Hayes matter .Perhaps as the Zohar so simply puts it, there is always cause and effect inthis world as well as in all the others. Hagay Batzri has always virally condemned the Kabbalah Centre for his own personal gain despite the reality that hundreds of Jews and non-Jews including his gentile wife who I have met on a few occassions. If he was the least bit lit he would realize that all his problems stem only from the fact that he and his ilk have constantly disparaged an organazation that has helped me and my family when no one else couldn't I give the Centre much credit that they worked tirelessly with a prostitude and madam who by all practicalities should have been deceased following her multiple suicide attempts.BUT once again as stated in many past comments "SHAME ON YOU HAGAY BATZRI!!!!!!!!

Rabbeinu Gershom, who lived over a 1000 years ago in Germany promulgated several bans. One of these was the ban on having more than one wife. Another of these was a ban on divorcing one’s wife against her will.

Neither of these bans was accepted by Sephardim. Therefore he may divorce his wife against his will and he may marry an additional wife whether his first wife agrees or not. This is not a loophole, this is the basic Jewish Law.

In the United States, a religious marriage without a marriage license is not recognized by the state. Therefore, in civil law he is not guilty of bigamy.

The Torah forbids the wife, or anyone else to seek financial redress, relief or judgement of any kind from another jew without first getting permission from the Jewish Court (Beit Din). If she thought that that Beit din was prejudiced, she could have gone to a different Beit Din.

For you to say that it desecrates the sanctity of the Jewish court system show your total ignorance of the Torah. It is consider a very grave offense in Jewish Law to resort to the secular court system.

If she in fact committed adultery the husband is not allowed to continue in a marital relationship with her. If she did not commit adultery, but merely kissed another man in a romantic way, she is not entitled to any financial settlement at all.

I am not familiar at first hand with any of the facts of the case but based on what is reported here:

There is no reason in Jewish Law for Rabbi Batzri, since he is a Sephardi, not to marry as many women as he wants.

According to Jewish Law, since he is a Sephardi, Rabbi Batzri is allowed to divorce his wife even against her will.

If the first Mrs. Batzri in fact committed adultery, Rabbi Batzri may not remain married to her. Even if he were divorced, he would be allowed either to marry a second wife or to divorce the adulterous one even against her will. She would be entitled to no financial settlement whatsoever.

If the second “Mrs. Batzri” is not Jewish, then the wedding is invalid in Jewish Law. If she is Jewish, not a close relative of his, and not married to anyone else, then Rabbi Batzri may marry her even if she has a sordid past. If she was a prostitute and he did not know this, then the marriage can be declared null and void. If she is currently a prostitute, he may not remain married to her.

If the first Mrs. Batzri is pursuing her husband in civil court, she is in grave violation of Jewish law.

I have met Rabbi Ben Zaken, but never worked with him and might not recognize him on the street. I do not know either Rabbi Batzri or either of his wives, so I have no personal interest in any of the parties. I am a judge in Jewish religious courts in matters of divorce.

I totally agree with the last entry. I still cannot believe such slanderous loshon hara could be expressed towards a true woman of valor-Luna Batri. May hashem bless her, and finally bring a downfall to all those who who have created even an air of sin around her.Mostly may her son be spared any further embarrasment because of her father and new bride'e sic

This blog was just brought to my attention. Firstly it is forbidden for any one except a student of a master to quote the holy holy zohar in a public forum without express permission from his master.I am a student from a master,and I assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the foolish one who quoted the holy zohar on your blog is merely a personification of the SATAN who wishes to lead the righteous astray CAVEAT EMPTOR much light to the searchers & righteous. love E.

This blog was just brought to my attention. Firstly it is forbidden for any one except a student of a master to quote the holy holy zohar in a public forum without express permission from his master.I am a student from a master,and I assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the foolish one who quoted the holy zohar on your blog is merely a personification of the SATAN who wishes to lead the righteous astray CAVEAT EMPTOR much light to the searchers & righteous. love E.

It is truly an enigma how my name has become associated with the Luna and chagai debacle.The fact of the matter is, I did have a fling with his current wife . As soon as I found out that she is a prostitude I immediately ended the relationship after spending hundreds of thosands of dollars falling for her sob stories. I was a fool butnot as foolish as Chagai!!! yours truly ,David K.

It is truly an enigma how my name has become associated with the Luna and chagai debacle.The fact of the matter is, I did have a fling with his current wife . As soon as I found out that she is a prostitude I immediately ended the relationship after spending hundreds of thosands of dollars falling for her sob stories. I was a fool butnot as foolish as Chagai!!! yours truly ,David K.

This is Sickening, at the risk of being a paria, nehama has ruined so many people especially the special rav rebbi ARye who studied personally with the greatest rav of our generation HARAV BERG may she rot with all the disbelievers Yimach SH'mah

Arye Weiner,Nod, Rabbi Weiner and Michele Radin, or Rina Radin, Or Micale Raddin, or Ann Walker what ever names you are using now, stop it you are jealous stupied grandparents, who behave like children. Would you like everyone to know about your childhood, Arye, your drug use and jail time? It could be very easily done. Arye Weiner, you may have studied with Rabbi Berg when you worked at the Kabbalah Center BUT YOU WERE FIRED! I had the great honor of hosting the honorable Rav Ashlag for shabbat recently, now that is a true Kabbalist.

I can only wish the two of you a very happy life together I don't know what you are truly getting out of this. I can only assume it is when you two are under the influence of Klonopin and Alcohol.

Rabbi Arye Weiner, David Kirshenbaum is a man who is married has seven children, lives is Israel and anybody in their right mind would know he would not admit to having an affair. Get on with your life!

Rebbe Arye, et al, there are two men that Rabbi Batzri's son hates very much. One is David Kirshenbaum for sleeping with his mother and the other is you. You, because he know's how you used to beat Rabbi Batzri current wife, the children that lived downstairs from Rabbi Batzri's current wife while she was dating you and financialy supporting you and your four children,heard you beat her on many, many, many occassions and they are friends of Rabbi Batzri's son. And they told him.

Because you can no longer physically hurt her, you must go on the internet and tell horrible lies?

STOP YOURSELF. You are dating the Goya Ms. Raddin,who is just as sick as you are. She is also your puppet.

Why does her daughter Danielle, whom you claimed to have slept with, want nothing to do with her mother and especially you? She say's that you are both pathalogical liars.

Find peace in your heart, even G-d will forgive your Goya girlfriend if she truly want's to be forgiven. Get on with your life, is it very obvious that you can't get over Mrs. Batzri and can only lash out with words over the internet. It's been over a long-time ago between you too, thandks to Hashen she got away from you while she was still alive.

yes, he is one big chicken! Also known as a jail bird! Spent time for beating up his current girlfriend, Michelle Radin, Rina, Raddin, Micale Raddin, Ann Walker, whatever her name is, also, guess how many restraining order's from women he has against him. The first came from his first wife, which also included child endangerment.

Nechama Batzri was never kicked out of any shul, Arye and Michelle were, and guess which one? THE HAPPY MINYAN! They are probably one of the most open minded shul's around. Gee, wonder what they did?

Michelle brought your mad rantings to my attention.'Nina'aka supposed fake jewish poser nehama batzri I won't belittle you on line any further.It's hard to reach so low to your level. And I'm not angry at you for firing me.In actuality you spared me from sinking as low as you and your four sisters into your sinister world of pimps drugs prostitution.I've been in touch with your darling rebbi and you know it is only your scitzophrenia that makes you act this way.As far as your husband he seems like the biggest loser on earth.When are yu going to claim that he beats you ina public forum? Is it not a coincidence that you get beaten by eerybody? Let's see,Luna Batzri beat you Your conversion rabbi always felt you up,Rabbe Arye beas everbody including you The "PIMP" the back one Kevin beat you for seven years Your next door neighbor The poor sick lady tried to kill you Your Buddy Michelle the hooker from England whose life you ruined always beat you. Your ex husband Kenny Brownen was a drunk who always beat you And how many men raped you and on and on.I suggest you recheck into Brotman or Thalien or Las Encinas before you wreak havoc in other peoples lives May God bless your twisted soul your phone girl sic'heather

Michelle brought your mad rantings to my attention. 'Nina' aka supposed fake jewish poser Nehama Batzri, I won't belittle you on line any further. It's hard to reach so low to your level. And I'm not angry at you for firing me. In actuality, you spared me from sinking as low as you and your four sisters into your sinister world of pimps, drugs and prostitution. I've been in touch with your darling rebbi and he, as well as you, know it is only your schitzophrenia that makes you act this way, and Believe it or not, the rebbi forgives you. As far as your husband, he seems like the biggest loser on earth. Wise up! When are you going to claim that Chagai, your default,beats you in a public forum? Is it not a coincidence that you get beaten by everybody?

Poor, Arye, you still can't get over Nechama can you? It seems like your goya girlfriend Michele, Rina, Micala, Ann Prague, Ann Walker. Maybe she is a lesbian?

Get on with your life. None of your sickening lies can be proved. The only one who ever beat Mrs. Batzri, was you during your alcohol and drug infested times.

You are just like your sister Gitty Schachter, how many doses of Efextor and Klonipon does she take? She's married and has several children but is in love with her boss, Rabbi Butler. Her husband and children know all about it, I hope the medication helps her.It certainly does not help you.

Arye Weiner, what do you tell YOUR kids about your divorce. The truth, that you left your wife of 18 years for a hooker named Debra you met on a plane and moved to New York with? Do they know about your heriod use and how you got that poor girl hooked on it also. Your crack use when you worked for the OU; maybe that's why you were stealing.

Such a shame you got your poor son addicted to drugs, herion. I hope at least he makes it out alive.

Nina, if I Could Help you I would,I know you're n a lot of trouble I wish I COULD HELP, bUT i HAVE A CALL, PLEASE CALLME in thirty minutes but Not on sofiep this site.....Ey I Have a cll for Multiple hours , can you escape from hagie........Its 2 grand!!!!!!!!!

hey mom whatup with you is everything O.K. call me on my cell LUV U 4EVER keep it together by the by my abba is happily married to a 22 yr. old. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxP.S.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx she looks like a much younger version of U